Mr. Monk Gets a Manicure

Nhajes Qient

Notes: I came up with this one in a dream… sort of random… but anyway. Monk rocks my socks – he is so awesome! Of course, Sharona is just as cool. I was so upset when I saw the show on USA and there was no Sharona. It just killed me! Somehow, I just don't like Natalie as much. She doesn't have the same kind of character that Sharona did… ah well. Enjoy this one. I suck at murder mysteries, but I love Monk, and I had to write this.

Part One

The warm light in the office shone onto the plush ivory carpet and the ballet flat-soled shoes lying in the door frame of the office; they were bright lavender and covered with clear beadwork.

Directly opposite from the door was a small wood desk. On the desk was the lamp that shed the dim light, a silver-and-blue boom box, and a Mac laptop.

Sitting in the chair near the desk, arranging flowers, was a young woman of about twenty six years. She was bent on her flowers, placing one in a spot then taking the whole bouquet out to start over. Every once in a while she would come to an arrangement she liked, and she would stand up to admire it from her desk, then return to the vase to mess with the flowers some more.

The radio was playing softly – it was her favorite song, "Can't Help Falling In Love." She began to sing along, and though she wasn't the greatest singer, it was relaxing to her – to be finishing up with another day doing a job she loved.

She had just finished moving a peach colored rose into a new position, when her cell phone rang loudly. Quickly the woman groped into her pocket and flipped the phone open.

"Hello?"

"It's me, Claire."

"Oh hi! How are you?"

"I'm doing okay, but I'd be doing much better if you'd stop fixing those flowers and come out to see me."

"Ohmygosh, you're here?"

"Better believe it."

Giggling excitedly, Claire snapped her phone shut and hurried out into the hallway.

"Hello? Where are you?"

She heard footsteps and instinctively turned around… gasped… and then silence fell over the small room. The killer had vanished into the blackness, proud of his accomplishment.

He paused at the office, observing the vase of flowers.

"I'm sorry, baby," the killer said, "It had to be done."

It's a jungle out there
Disorder and confusion everywhere.
And no one seems to care, but I do.
Hey! Who's in charge here?
It's a jungle out there,
Poison in the very air we breathe.
You know it's in the water that we drink,
Well I do.
It's amazing.
People think I'm crazy, cause I worry all the time
If you paid attention, you'd be worried too.
You better pay attention, or this world we love so much
Might
Just
Kill
You.
I could be wrong now.
But I don't think so!
Cause it's a jungle out there…
It's a jungle out there.